The Rise and Fall of the Solomonic Dynasty sets forth to answer the questions of when, why, and where the Kebra Nagast (the Ethiopian national epic) was written. My research suggests that the main purpose of writing the Kebra Nagast (KN) was to enhance the prestige of the Ethiopian monarchs as descendants of Solomon and Makeda (the Queen of Sheba) and guardians of Judeo-Christianity. It also suggests that the text was written in Ethiopia by the six century A.D. I then ask: was Makeda a historical figure? Was she an Ethiopian queen? My research implies that the answer to both questions is positive. In addition, I explore whether or not the descendants of Menelik had reigned in Ethiopia until the rise of the Axumite Empire circa the first century A.D. However, written or inscriptional evidences of this period are lacking. Consequently, I explore the presence of political, economic, and cultural conditions that could have supported a Solomonic dynasty during the first millennium B.C. My research suggests that such conditions were present. Moreover, I discuss and analyze the political history of Ethiopia, which occurred between the first-century A.D. and 1930. My research shows that the first historical clues that implicated the Axumite rulers as descendants of Menelik I may have emerged during this period. Furthermore, I discuss the reign of the last emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Sellassie I. In light of the downfall of the monarchy in 1974, I analyze one of the main claims of the KN, that the Solomonic dynasty is an eternal institution. Past history of the fallen monarchies in the modern era in countries like France, Russia, and China suggests that we need to be pessimistic about the chances for the restoration of the monarchy in Ethiopia. However, the weight and peculiarity of Ethiopian history imply that the claims of the KN may not be ruled out.

Contents

Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1: Theories of Political Legitimacy

1.2: The Outline of the Book

Chapter 2: The Kebra Nagast (Glory of Kings)

2.1: A Brief Overview of the Kebra Nagast

2.2: Who Wrote the Kebra Nagast, When, Where, and Why?

2.2.1: The 14th Century Thesis

2.2.2: The Sixth Century Thesis

2.2.3: The Pre-Christ Era Thesis

2.3: A Comparison of the Ethiopic and Arabic Texts of the Kebra Nagast

2.4: Concluding Remarks

Chapter 3: The Queen of Sheba

3.1: The Old Testament and Queen of Sheba

3.2: The New Testament and the Queen of Sheba

3.3: Josephus and the Queen of Sheba

3.4: Other Jewish Sources and the Queen of Sheba

3.5: The Qur’an and the Queen of Sheba

3.6: Muslim Historians and the Queen of Sheba

3.7: Some Concluding Observations

Chapter 4: The Solomonic Dynasty: From Menelik I to the Axumite Empire

4.1: Archaeological Findings

4.2: Religious Clues

4.3: Oral Traditions

4.4: Geographical Clues

4.5: Concluding Remarks

Chapter 5: The Solomonic Dynasty: From the First Century A.D. to 1930

5.1: The Axumite Empire

5.2: The Restoration of the Solomonic Dynasty

5.3: The Solomonic Dynasty in the Modern Era

5.4: Concluding Remarks

Chapter 6: The Fall of the Solomonic Dynasty of Ethiopia

6.1: The Reign of Emperor Haile Sellassie I

6.2: Concluding Remarks

Chapter 7: The Future of the Solomonic Dynasty: Is the Kebra Nagast a Time-Bound Document?

Chapter 8: Conclusion

Appendix A: List of Ethiopian Kings (4530 B.C. – 1974 A.D.)

Bibliography

Index

Gizachew Tiruneh has done extensive research on the history and essence of the Kebra Nagast, which for millennia formed and helped shape the Ethiopian psyche and political development. What are the insights gleaned from this ancient epic and does it apply to today’s challenges? One lesson is clear and that is that the Kebra Nagast is a repository of great wisdom.

— Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia

I found TheRise and Fall of the Solomonic Dynasty by Gizachew Tiruneha fascinating book. The depth and breadth of the subject tackled within it are simply breathtaking. The dexterity and delicacy displayed by the author in dealing with such highly controversial matter as the future of the monarchy in Ethiopia is admirable. In a time of intellectual dishonesty in which we seem to live, it can be equated to bravery.

— Dr. Getachew Mekasha, Founding President of Moa Anbessa

This book is based on a thorough research and a sound analysis of the history of Ethiopia’s royal rulers, or the Solomonic dynasty, who were descendants of King Solomon of Jerusalem and Queen Sheba, or Makeda of Ethiopia. Students of history and those interested in learning about Ethiopia’s long and rich history could enormously benefit from this book.

—Professor Getachew Metaferia, Professor of Political Science, Morgan State University

Dr. Gizachew Tiruneh is an associate professor of political science at the University of Central Arkansas, U.S.A. His teaching interests include comparative politics (e.g., democratization, African politics, and Middle East politics), international relations (e.g., globalization), and political methodology. His research interests include democratic theory and measurement, socioeconomic development, academic performance, and Ethiopian political history. Dr. Tiruneh has published several journal articles and is the author of the book, When is Democracy Normal? The Relation to Demography, Market Economy, and Globalization (The Edwin Mellen Press, 2008). He has also published a memoir, On the Run in the Blue Nile/Nefis Adin Rucha BeAbay Sheleko/ነፍስ አድን ሩጫ በዓባይ ሸለቆ, about his political persecution during the military/communist regime of Ethiopia. His memoir is published in both English and Amharic languages (Create Space, U.S.A., 2014; Afro Printing Press, Ethiopia, 2015).